The Cannon Fodder NPC Went Too Far [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 45
Chapter 45
A desk lamp, a black pen, a few sheets of white paper. Gu Aoyu and Xu Luxi sat upright at the desk, writing diligently.
She knew every word on the problem, yet she couldn’t solve it. Where exactly did she make a mistake?
Gu Aoyu angrily picked up her pen and calculated the values again. The dense handwriting filled the entire scratch paper, but the result was still incorrect.
Anger, like a lit powder keg, exploded in her chest with a boom. She wanted to slam the pen onto the desk, but a glance at Xu Luxi, who was concentrating on her work beside her, quickly made her abandon the thought.
Her white-knuckled fingers grabbed the piece of paper, quickly tore it off, crumpled it into a ball, and fiercely smashed it against the wall. She completed the action in one breath, still breathing heavily, not feeling relieved.
“What’s wrong? Can’t solve the problem?” Even though the movement was made as quietly as possible, Xu Luxi noticed. She turned around and asked in a soft voice.
Gu Aoyu sullenly rested her chin on the desk, her face stern, clearly signaling her extreme frustration.
A hand gently landed on her fuzzy head, smoothing her somewhat bristled hair.
Xu Luxi mimicked Gu Aoyu, resting her chin on the desk, positioned about a foot away from Gu Aoyu. Her gentle gaze settled on Gu Aoyu’s profile.
Even without saying a word, she was hard to ignore. Gu Aoyu pursed her lips, about to raise her hand and swat away the hand messing with her hair, but she remembered Xu Luxi’s watery eyes and irritably gave up, turning her head away.
Xu Luxi’s close breath brushed faintly against the back of her neck. Xu Luxi didn’t speak but moved closer. Gu Aoyu’s already fierce expression became even fiercer. She knew that if she didn’t speak, Xu Luxi would keep staring at her all night.
“Yes, I just can’t solve it,” she twisted her head back, slightly raising her tone, unintentionally tingeing it with frustration.
Xu Luxi was taken aback, a hint of hurt flashing in her eyes, but she still gave a gentle smile and softly consoled, “Don’t rush, these problems are indeed a bit difficult. Take your time.”
Gu Aoyu’s brows drooped slightly in annoyance, and the malevolence on her face unconsciously faded.
“I wasn’t mad at you. I listened in class these past few days, but I just can’t figure out the calculation.”
Xu Luxi sighed, got up, picked up the paper ball Gu Aoyu had thrown aside, smoothed it out, and started writing the steps on her scratch paper.
The soft lamplight shone on the girl’s face, which was exceptionally serene.
Gu Aoyu took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and let out a near-suicidal mumble: “Older Sister.”
“Mm.” Her lips curled slightly upward, the smile spreading quickly across her face like ripples on a lake touched by the spring wind. Xu Luxi softly acknowledged her; there was no trace of hurt left in her expression.
Gu Aoyu felt even more depressed, especially since she was in the wrong. She secretly glared at Xu Luxi while the latter was writing with her head down.
If counted by the age of her previous life plus this life, she was older than Xu Luxi. Yet, she was forced to use this title by Xu Luxi, who knew nothing of her past, based on her current age.
She didn’t know why Xu Luxi was so enthusiastic about this title.
She was clearly the older sister.
Gu Aoyu, with her hair dyed back to black and her lip ring removed, tilted her head to look at Xu Luxi. The white light shone on her distinctly-featured face, making her look strangely docile.
“All done.” After solving the problem in a few moves, Xu Luxi highlighted the main formulas and patiently explained them to Gu Aoyu.
Like a flash of enlightenment, Gu Aoyu suddenly understood. She picked up her pen and recalculated the problem; the answer was correct.
Her pupils instantly dilated, her eyes shining brightly. She said with some emotion, “You’re really amazing. You solved such a difficult problem so quickly. I just couldn’t do it no matter what.” Her eyebrows unconsciously drooped as she spoke, feeling depressed again.
“But Aoyu is amazing too. You can scare all those thugs away with one punch, you’re the most formidable.”
Hearing Xu Luxi’s sincere admiration, Gu Aoyu proudly raised her eyebrows and accepted the compliment without reservation. Her two small canine teeth were faintly visible near her lips.
Only then did Xu Luxi feel relieved. She marked a section of her high school freshman notes for Gu Aoyu to memorize.
The first round of review was coming up soon. The first round would be a systematic review, roughly covering the foundational knowledge again. It was a perfect opportunity for Aoyu to follow along and learn.
First, she needed to understand the basic concepts, secure the easiest points, and then learn to solve some medium-difficulty problems. As for the high-difficulty ones, there was no need to waste time on them.
If she mastered all of this, passing the university entrance threshold should be fine.
Xu Luxi lowered her head and wrote out Gu Aoyu’s future study plan, filling a large sheet and sticking it right in front of Gu Aoyu’s desk.
Time flew by. Two semesters passed quickly, leaving only one short semester until the college entrance exam.
“Hurry up, we’re going to be late. The teacher said the first class would cover key points.” Gu Aoyu, with a neat short haircut, grabbed Xu Luxi’s arm and rushed toward the classroom in a hurry.
Xu Luxi stumbled as Gu Aoyu grabbed her, running while panting and complaining, “It’s your fault. I called you several times, and you wouldn’t get up.”
“My mistake, my mistake. I studied too late yesterday. Don’t lecture me yet, just run!”
“Wait… wait for me. Slow down.”
The two rushed into the classroom right after the teacher, inevitably receiving a stern glare.
What followed was tedious classes and tedious problem-solving, like a painful cycle, trapping all the vigorous youth in this purgatory, frying and roasting them, preventing reincarnation.
Mountains of books and test papers surrounded every desk. The classroom was frighteningly silent, with only the scratching sound of pens on paper. Joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness were all tied to the paper in front of them.
High scorers rejoiced; low scorers grieved. Breakdowns and sobs were commonplace. It was as if the score determined a person’s entire life.
Ring, ring, ring, the ten-thirty end-of-class bell rang softly. Gu Aoyu rubbed her sore wrist. A few students left, but the classroom remained quiet. The bright white light shone on the students who remained dedicated.
Gu Aoyu paused for a moment, packed her schoolbag, and left with Xu Luxi.
The chill carried the fragrance of grass and trees, permeating their hearts. Only when they reached the track, looking at the shadows of high school seniors still running and shouting, even at this hour, did Gu Aoyu slowly let out a breath, her tense back relaxing a little.
They put down their schoolbags and stood on the track. The breeze caressed their cheeks, and their hair flew freely.
They swung their arms, their feet lifting and falling rapidly. In their ears was the consistent and rhythmic sound of their soles rubbing against the track.
With each stride, Gu Aoyu swung her arms, like a wild horse unbridled, running faster and faster, leaving only a dark blur behind her.
Sweat gradually soaked her clothes, tracing paths down her cheeks and forehead. But she was oblivious, opening her arms to embrace the strong wind. In the distance, the classrooms were still lit, the sound of the students’ frantic writing intermingling with their sharp breathing.
Setting aside the endless test papers and the fluctuating grades, under this vast night sky, there was only the free wind and the youth running unrestrainedly.
Gu Aoyu opened her mouth and let out a shout.
Aah! ! !
Heat spread through all her limbs and bones. Gu Aoyu slowly stopped, panting heavily, and smiled freely.
A slender figure swept past her. Long black hair inexplicably brushed her nose, ticklish, carrying a particularly familiar fresh scent.
Gu Aoyu scoffed. In her shimmering eyes, a warm spring seemed to leap, casting itself freely upon Xu Luxi, who slowed down, waiting for her to catch up.
“Xu Luxi.” Gu Aoyu cupped her hands like a megaphone and loudly called her name.
Xu Luxi curled the corner of her lips and suddenly looked back.
Gu Aoyu stood in place and shouted her name again, loudly.
“Xu Luxi!”
Moonlight spilled onto her distinctly-featured face, shattering in her starry black eyes. In the hazy light, the girl’s expression was exceptionally gentle, like flower petals dancing in the spring breeze, gently falling onto Xu Luxi’s heartstrings.
“Gu…” Xu Luxi had just opened her mouth, intending to shout Gu Aoyu’s name back, when she saw the unmoving girl raise her eyebrows and jog to her side, obscuring the moonlight above her head.
Gu Aoyu’s dark eyes reflected Xu Luxi’s bright face. Xu Luxi inexplicably stopped speaking, watching her silently, doing nothing else.
In that moment, she thought of nothing, calculated nothing. She just stared quietly at her. She thought that if she were to die right then, she would be willing.
The girl in the school uniform, covered in sweat, stood there blankly, the breeze caressing their cheeks. It felt a little silly.
Gu Aoyu was the first to turn her head away, stopping beside Xu Luxi, signaling her to walk a lap with her.
Xu Luxi nodded and took the first step with her left foot. Gu Aoyu watched her movements closely and also took a step with her left foot, swinging her left arm. Xu Luxi looked at her in surprise. She didn’t realize when Gu Aoyu had started walking with her arm and leg on the same side.
She curved the corner of her eyes, but before she could laugh out loud, her right pinky finger, which was swinging along with her left foot, was gently hooked by another pinky finger. Seeing that Xu Luxi didn’t resist, Gu Aoyu linked their pinkies.
Thump, thump, thump, thump, her heart hammered wildly. Xu Luxi pressed her lips together and tilted her head to look at Gu Aoyu. Gu Aoyu stared straight ahead, her profile tense. A drop of sweat rolled down her forehead. She seemed to sense Xu Luxi’s gaze and nervously swallowed.
Xu Luxi frantically averted her gaze, her entire body stiff. A light blush slowly crept up her neck.
She slowed her movements and sighed in relief. They had done more intimate things before. Why did this simple gesture, which wasn’t even holding hands, make her heart beat so fast? So uncomfortable.
Her pinky finger twitched, scratching Gu Aoyu’s palm. Gu Aoyu’s pinky finger instinctively loosened a bit. Xu Luxi seized the opportunity, smoothly moving her soft palm forward, taking hold of Gu Aoyu’s hand.
She also looked straight ahead, saying nothing. Beads of sweat slowly seeped from her forehead. The two joined hands dispelled the previously cool air, growing hot and damp, inexplicably becoming moist.
They still didn’t let go, holding hands just like that, strolling under the star-studded night sky.